U.S. patent number 5,490,208 [Application Number 08/333,558] was granted by the patent office on 1996-02-06 for apparatus and method for voice mode and data mode television-to-television communication.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Viscorp. Invention is credited to Roger Remillard.
United States Patent |
5,490,208 |
Remillard |
February 6, 1996 |
Apparatus and method for voice mode and data mode
television-to-television communication
Abstract
A television-to-television audio/visual system for exchanging
voice and graphical information. Users having a electronic device
embodying the present invention, which provides a television with
speakerphone capability, can initiate a voice call directly to
another such device. After the initial voice mode, the users switch
to data mode to send or exchange image data. The system is
switchable between modes to allow effective and efficient exchange
of information between the users.
Inventors: |
Remillard; Roger (Skokie,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Viscorp (Chicago, IL)
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Family
ID: |
27118320 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/333,558 |
Filed: |
November 2, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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952435 |
Sep 28, 1992 |
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770520 |
Oct 3, 1991 |
5396546 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/93.19;
348/14.05; 348/E7.091 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
11/085 (20130101); H04N 1/00283 (20130101); H04N
7/002 (20130101); H04N 21/2747 (20130101); H04N
21/44222 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
1/00 (20060101); H04M 11/08 (20060101); H04N
7/00 (20060101); H04M 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/93,96-98,100,90,110
;348/14-20 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
W Fawer et al, "A Terminal and Telecommunication System for
Education", 1974 International Conference on Frontiers in
Education, 15-19 Jul. 1974 pp. 79-83. .
Telewriting Terminal Sketchphone .COPYRGT. 1983, pp. 1-6 Musashino
Electrical Communication Laboratory. .
Gateway 2000: A Report of the Videotex Industry Association Study
on North American Gateway, Oct. 1988. .
Hanson, G., "Viewers Get a Piece of the Action," Insight, Dec. 24,
1990-Jan. 7, 1991. .
Van, J., "Computer Revolution of the 90's May Hit Home Over Phone
Lines," Chicago Tribune, Mar. 17, 1991. .
Update: A Newsletter for Members of the Videotex Industry
Association, vol. 9, No. 4, Apr./May 1991. .
Update: A Newsletter for Members of the Videotex Industry
Association, vol. 9, No. 8, Sep. 1990. .
"Home Information Appliance Strategies Plotted," Consumer
Information Appliance 1990, pp. 2, 5, 9. .
Fahri, P., "Interactive Television Gets a Boost," Washington Post,
(not dated, but prior to Oct. 3, 1991). .
Levin, S. L., "Companies Provide Information Services," Chicago
Tribune, Section 1:11 (Jun. 25, 1990). .
Van, J., "International Affairs Library Is," Chicago Tribune,
Section 7:8 (Mar. 17, 1991)..
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Primary Examiner: Chan; Wing F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Townsend and Townsend and Crew
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/952,435 filed
Sep. 28, 1992, now abandoned which is a continuation in part of
07/770,520 filed Oct. 3, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,546.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for remotely interfacing two consumer televisions
comprising:
first and second telecommunication interfaces each of said first
and second telecommunication interfaces comprising:
a telephone interface adapted to couple to a telephone line and
including a modem;
an input device that produces control signals;
an audio input device that receives voice input and generates audio
signals;
a modulator that receives video signals and audio signals,
modulates said video signals and audio signals onto a broadcast
television signal and outputs the broadcast television signal to an
external input of a consumer television;
a controller that:
initiates a call to the other telecommunication interface via said
telephone interface responsive to a first particular control signal
produced by said input device, said call beginning in a voice mode,
wherein received audio signals are audiblized through said
modulator and said consumer television;
switches a voice call between said telecommunication interfaces to
a data mode responsive to a second particular control signal
produced by said input device, wherein during said data mode, only
image data and no audio signals are exchanged via said telephone
interface; and
converts image data received during said data mode to video signals
for display as a graphic image via said modulator and said consumer
television.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller also:
exits said data mode responsive to a third particular control
signal produced by said input device, wherein outside said data
mode, only audio signals and no image data are exchanged via said
telephone interface.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said controller also:
generates video signals for displaying icons on said consumer
television to prompt a user to enter commands to switch into and
out of data mode.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a
stylus-type pointing device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a
remote keypad.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said displayed graphical image
may be modified in response to commands accepted by said user input
device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to interactivity directly
between television sets. More specifically, the present invention
relates to an intercommunication system and method for enabling
written and oral communication exchange in a simple and efficient
manner.
Television has traditionally been a one-way communication medium,
with broadcast or cable presentation coming into the home or
business. The television medium has been critiqued because of this
one-way nature. Interactive systems are developing to allow a
television viewer to interact with a particular television program.
Many of these devices are expensive or permit operation with only
certain programs which have been adapted to work with the
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides apparatus and method for simply,
efficiently and economically interfacing to television programming,
user services, or to other users of televisions. Televisions
equipped with electronic devices embodying the present invention
become two way mediums for the home consumer or business
person.
According to one aspect of the invention, the preferred embodiment
of the present invention provides the electronic device with a
television interface, a communications interface, an input device
and a controller. The electronic device may be a separate unit, or
integrated into a television or cable converter box, for example.
The preferred embodiment of the electronic device includes a
speakerphone, using a microphone and the television speaker, to
make conventional telephone calls. The controller includes a mode
switcher to switch between voice mode operation and data mode
operation.
In operation, a user preferably uses the electronic device to
initiate a voice call directly to another user employing another
electronic device. Thereafter the two users can agree to exchange
graphical information, but switching to a data mode. In data mode,
one electronic device sends an image to the other machine. The
image can be of virtually any subject matter. Thereafter, the users
can switch back to voice mode and discuss the image appearing on
both their machines.
An electronic device according to the present invention is
applicable to many real world situations. Depending upon the
application, different image editing or selection options are
available. For example, one application permits a user to initiate
a call to a ticket seller. After the user makes the initial voice
call to an agent, identifying the event and date, for example, the
user and the ticket seller's agent enter data mode. The agent sends
a graphic image to the user of a layout of the available seats and
associated costs, including other pertinent information. The user
selects one or more seats from the available seats using the input
device, paying attention to the floor plan for any special
considerations the user believes are important. Thereafter, the
user and the agent can switch to a voice call to finalize the
transaction. In one embodiment, the electronic device could include
purchasing data, such as credit card information, and relay this
financial information directly to the agent during the data
call.
Another application of the system is in education. For example, a
student could connect to a professor's system. After agreeing upon
a particular lesson and any other parameters, the system is
switched to data mode. Questions and information pertinent to the
question are sent to the student. The student may be provided with
a multiple choice question. The student selects a particular one of
the prospective answers using the input device. Thereafter, the
professor can determine whether voice discussion regarding the
question is necessary, or if another image should be sent to the
student for further study.
Still another use would be for two users to participate in a joint
enterprise or game, for example. One simple example would be for
the two users to participate in a game of tic-tac-toe with each
other. After moving, the users could enter voice mode and discuss
developments. The system permits dynamic and real time two-way
exchange of audio and visual information using ordinary television
sets.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
realized upon review of the remaining portions of the
specification, drawing and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television-to-television audiovisual
system 10 including an electronic device 20 embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device
20;
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a exemplary presentation on a screen
of a television 35;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating general operation of the system
10; and
FIG. 5 is a a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television-to-television audiovisual
system 10 including an electronic device 20 embodying the present
invention. The electronic device 20 is controlled by an input
device, such as for example, a keypad remote 22 or a relative
pointing device stylus-type pointing device. The relative pointing
device may be a mouse pen 30, or a digitizing tablet 30' which
issues position information to the electronic device 20. The system
10 includes a television 35 having a speaker 40. The electronic
device 20 includes a microphone 45. A communications medium 50,
such as a telephone network, connects the electronic devices 20 to
each other.
In operation, the microphone 45, the speaker 40 and the remote
keypad 22 provide the system 10 with speakerphone capability. A
user selects a phone function from the remote keypad 22, activating
the telephone system. Using the remote keypad 22, the user enters a
phone number of another user having an electronic device 20. The
call is placed from the first electronic device 20 to the other
electronic device 20 over the communications medium 50 much like a
conventional call. The second user answers responds to the call by
selecting answer from the remote keypad. The users communicate with
each other using their respective electronic devices, similar to
speakerphone operation, with incoming audio presented on the
television speaker 40 and outgoing audio received by the microphone
45.
The users will switch, using the electronic devices 20, to data
mode from the voice mode. In the data mode, graphic images are
exchanged between the users and displayed on the screen of their
respective television. The received graphic image may be optionally
displayed on the entire screen (with a television broadcast
optionally in a "viewing window"), or in its own window overlaying
the television broadcast. The users can view, edit, interact with,
or print the graphic. Editing or interaction is performed using the
remote keypad 22 or the stylus pointing device 30. The edited
image, or data relating to the interaction, is sent back in data
mode to the other electronic device 20. The receiving electronic
device can modify the image or respond to the received signal as
appropriate.
One user may desire to return to audio mode. The desire is
transmitted to the other user who receives a signal indicating a
switch to audio mode is desired. The receiving electronic device 20
can be in automatic mode which automatically switches modes, or
wait for the user to select the change if it is in a manual mode.
For manual mode, the switch may result from selection of an
appropriate icon displayed on the television screen, or selection
of a predefined key combination of the remote keypad 20.
FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20.
The electronic device 20 is a microcontroller-controlled electronic
appliance including a central-processing unit (CPU) 100 coupled to
a memory. 102, an address decoder 104, a peripheral interface 106,
a video controller 108, and a modulator/demodulator (modem) 110 by
a data and address bus. The memory. 102 includes both random
read/write memory (RAM) and read-only memory. A power supply 120
generates power for the components of the electronic device 20
(V.sup.+), as well as to keep a battery-backup 122 charged. The
battery-backup 122 provides power for the RAM when the power-supply
120 is not connected to a power source 124. Additionally, the
electronic device 20 includes a credit card reader 130, an infrared
detector 132, a speakerphone controller 134, a television receiver
circuit 136, and a television modulator 138, all coupled to the
peripheral interface 106.
The CPU 100 controls operation of the electronic device 20
according to instructions stored in the ROM and the RAM of the
memory 102. The ROM includes an initialization sequence which the
CPU 100 executes upon every reset or power-up. The initialization
sequence includes a set of commands causing the electronic device
20 connect to a particular facility 30 and self-configure itself.
The self-configuration includes receipt of particularized
instructions for the particular electronic device 20, depending
upon an identification code stored in the ROM. The CPU 100 stores
these particularized instructions in the RAM.
The CPU 100 addresses the components of the electronic device 20
through the address decoder 104. The address decoder receives
addresses from the CPU 100 and asserts a select signal to an
identified component in response to a particular address.
Components with an asserted select signal from the address decoder
104 interact with the CPU 100, either receiving instructions or
providing dam.
The peripheral interface 106 includes a parallel input/output port
as well-known for interfacing to a printer 56, to the credit card
reader 130, and to the IR detector 132. The peripheral interface
106 includes a serial interface for the pointing device 54. The
parallel interface and the serial interface are separately
selectable by the address decoder 104.
The television interface includes a video controller 108 for text
and graphics, connected to a video memory and the video modulator
138 to produce television-compatible output. The television
interface connects to a conventional television 38 for display of
menus identifying the various facilities available to a user, and
for displaying the information provided from a selected facility,
as well as to enable screen-to-screen communication. The modem 110
includes a modulator/demodulator used for data calls, to convert
digital data to a format compatible with the communications medium,
such as a conventional telephone system. Additionally, the modem
110 includes a communications interface 140 to actually send and
receive signals relative to the communications medium. The
speakerphone controller 134 interfaces directly to the modem
interface 140 to implement the speakerphone operation.
The modem 110, through its modem interface 140 particularized for
the communications medium used by the electronic device 20,
communicates over the communications medium 50 to another
electronic device 20. The modem 110 and the interface 140 permits
the electronic devices 20 to exchange voice and data information.
The CPU 100, under control of a program in the memory 102, controls
the operational mode (voice or data).
The credit card reader 130, a conventional device, reads
magnetically encoded information on credit and debit cards. The
credit card reader 130 provides output information to the CPU 100
through the parallel input/output function of the peripheral
interface 106.
The IR detector 132 receives menu selection signals from the keypad
remote control 52. The IR detector 132 provides the CPU 100,
through the peripheral interface 106, with particular key
information selected.
FIG. 3 is a illustration of a exemplary presentation on a screen of
a television 35. The television 35 includes a display screen 200
which conventionally presents television or cable broadcasting. In
operation, the display screen 200 may be wholly dedicated to the
television-to-television communication or the display may include a
viewing window 202. If the display screen 200 presents television
broadcasting, the window 202 may be used for the graphic part of
the screen-to-screen function, while conventional television
programming is displayed. This would provide, for example, a
mechanism for two users to comment on a particular program while
viewing it. Alternatively, the conventional television programming
function could be placed in the viewing window 202, dedicating the
main screen display 200 to the screen-to-screen communication. The
screen display 200 may also include icons 210 and 212. These icons
could assist in the screen-to-screen communication. For example,
selection of one icon, icon 210, could switch the system 10 to
voice mode, while selection of the other icon 212 could switch to
dam mode.
To signal a switch from data mode to voice mode, selection of the
icon 210 by a first user (signaling this desire to switch to voice
mode) could, for example, cause the icon 210 on the screen display
200 to animate, or speaker 40 to produce an audible signal.
Thereafter, the selection of the icon 210 by the second user places
the system into the voice mode of operation. In the voice mode, the
users can orally agree to enter the data mode, and thereafter
choose icon 212.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating general operation of the system
10. The system 10 operation begins at step 300. The system 10
responds to a user's command to initiate a screen-to-screen call to
another user with an electronic device 20, step 305. The system 10
checks to see if the call has been connected, step 310. If it is
not connected, the system returns to step 305, otherwise the system
advances to step 315. At step 315, the users conduct a typical
telephone conference, preferably using the electronic device's
speakerphone capability. If using the speakerphone capability, the
users can switch immediately to data mode, step 320. Otherwise, one
user will have to activate the electronic device 20 connected to
their television 35. This is expected to be one operational
mode.
After switching to the data mode, one user sends the other
graphical information, step 325. The system 10 checks to see if its
user edited the screen display at step 330. If so, the system
returns to step 325 to send the update information, or the updated
image, depending upon the editing and the application. If no
editing had been done, the system 10 advances to step 335. Step 335
determines if one of the users requested a switch to voice mode. If
not, the system returns to step 330. If a request has been made,
the system switches to voice mode, step 340, and then returns to
step 315. The switch to voice mode, step 340 can be implemented to
be manually controlled, or automatic, again depending upon a
particular application. Note that although the one preferred
embodiment is illustrated as shown, that other implementations are
possible. For example, the system 10 could be interrupt driven,
causing particular step to be executed in response to some signal
from the system 10.
FIG. 5 is a a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22. FIG. 5
illustrates the use of an alpha-numeric array of keys to
effectively and efficiently control the two-way communication of
audio/visual information.
In conclusion, the present invention provides a simple, efficient
solution to a problem of effective two-way communication, The
electronic device, coupled to a conventional television and to a
communications medium, allows users to directly and simply
exchange, view, or edit virtually any graphical, written, textual,
or image data, and to thereafter simply and efficiently to discuss
the graphical data. While the above is a complete description of
the preferred embodiments of the invention, various alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents may be used. For example, while the
above-description identifies manual switching between the different
modes, it is possible for the systems to switch automatically.
Therefore, the above description should not be taken as limiting
the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *